Electrical connector assembly having sleeve units that prevent relative movement between two electrical connectors in a transverse direction of contact pins

ABSTRACT

An electrical connector assembly includes first and second electrical connectors that are interconnected electrically by engagement of pins and pins holes. The first electrical connector further includes two sleeve units sleeved fittingly and respectively on two positioning members of the second electrical connector to prevent relative movement between the first and second electrical connectors in a transverse direction of the contact pins.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an electrical connector assembly, moreparticularly to an electrical connector assembly with two electricalconnectors, one of which has two sleeve units, and the other one ofwhich has two positioning members inserted fittingly and respectivelyinto the sleeve units to prevent relative movement between the twoelectrical connectors.

2. Description of the Related Art

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional electrical connector assemblyincludes a first electrical connector 7 connected to an electrical cable9 of a computer peripheral device (not shown), and a second electricalconnector 8 connected to a host module of a computer (not shown). Thefirst electrical connector 7 has a first housing 71, and a firstengaging portion 72 disposed on one end of the first housing 71. Thefirst engaging portion 72 includes an annular outer frame 721 with atrapezoidal cross-section, and a plurality of parallel contact pins 722disposed within the outer frame 71. The second electrical connector 8includes a blocking portion 81, and a second engaging portion 82extending from the blocking portion 81. The second engaging portion 82has a connecting frame 821 with a trapezoidal cross-section, and anouter end surface formed with a plurality of pin holes 822 for insertionof the contact pins 722 therein. A plurality of contact terminals (notshown) are provided inside the pin holes 822 for electrical contact withthe contact pins 722 so that when the first engaging portion 72 iscoupled to the second engaging portion 82, the first electricalconnector 7 is connected electrically to the second electrical connector8.

Since the coupling between the first and second engaging portions 72, 82is inadequate to interconnect fixedly the first and second electricalconnectors 7, 8, retaining units are further provided on the blockingportion 81 of the second electrical connector 8. The retaining units aretwo hexagonal nuts 811 disposed fixedly on the blocking portion 81 andlocated respectively on two opposite sides of the second engagingportion 82. The first housing 71 is provided with two bolts 711, whichengage threadedly and respectively the nuts 811 so as to interconnectfixedly the first and second electrical connectors 7, 8.

However, in actual use, the connection between the first and secondelectrical connectors 7, 8 is rather troublesome and time consuming.Furthermore, since the electrical cable 9 of the computer peripheraldevice, such as a printer, a projector, or a flat panel plasma display,is frequently connected to and disconnected from the host module of thecomputer, the bolts 711 on the first housing 71 are usually notcompletely threaded to the nuts 811 such that when the cable 9 isaccidentally pushed or pulled, a small relative swinging movement willtake place between the first and second electrical connectors 7, 8 thatmay result in separation of the same. Moreover, even if the connectors7, 8 do not separate from each other, errors are likely to be introducedduring transmission of a high-speed or high frequency signal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide anelectrical connector assembly that is capable of overcoming theaforementioned drawbacks of the prior art.

According to this invention, an electrical connector assembly comprisesa first electrical connector and a second electrical connector havingone end adapted to be connected to an electronic device and the otherend connected detachably to the first electrical connector. The firstelectrical connector includes a first housing, a first engaging portionextending outwardly from the first housing, and a fixing unit disposedon the first housing and located adjacent to the first engaging portion.The second electrical connector includes a second housing, a secondengaging portion that extends outwardly from the second housing and thatis connected to the first engaging portion, and a positioning memberdisposed fixedly on the second housing and located adjacent to thesecond engaging portion. One of the first and second engaging portionsincludes a plurality of parallel contact pins disposed fixedly thereon.The other one of the first and second engaging portions includes aplurality of pin holes formed therein for receiving respectively thecontact pins therein to form an electrical connection between the firstand second electrical connectors. The positioning member engages thefixing unit so as to prevent relative movement between the first andsecond electrical connectors in an axial direction of the pins. Thefirst electrical connector further includes a sleeve unit disposedfixedly on the first housing around the fixing unit. The sleeve unit issleeved fittingly on the positioning member when the first engagingportion and the second engaging portion are interconnected, wherebyrelative movement between the first and second electrical connectors ina transverse direction of the contact pins is prevented.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent in the following detailed description of the preferredembodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a partly exploded perspective view of a conventionalelectrical connector assembly;

FIG. 2 is a partly exploded perspective view of the first preferredembodiment of an electrical connector assembly according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic top view, illustrating connection between thefirst and second electrical connectors of the first preferredembodiment;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the first preferred embodiment, takenalong line IV—IV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the second preferred embodiment of anelectrical connector assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the third preferred embodiment of anelectrical connector assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a partly exploded perspective view of the fourth preferredembodiment of an electrical connector assembly according to the presentinvention; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic top view, illustrating connection between thefirst and second electrical connectors of the fourth preferredembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it shouldbe noted that like elements are denoted by the same reference numeralsthroughout the disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, the first preferred embodiment of anelectrical connector assembly according to the present invention isshown to comprise a first electrical connector 1 and a second electricalconnector 2.

The first electrical connector 1 is adapted to be connected to anelectrical cable 5 of a computer peripheral device, such as a printer(not shown), and includes a first housing 11, and a first engagingportion 12 extending outwardly from the first housing 11. The firsthousing 11 has two opposite sides, each of which is provided with afixing unit 123 or a movable and rotatable bolt in a known manner. Thefirst engaging portion 12 includes an annular outer frame 121 with atrapezoidal cross-section, and a plurality of parallel contact pins 122disposed fixedly within the outer frame 121. The first electricalconnector 1 further includes two sleeve units 124, each of which isdisposed fixedly on the first housing 11 around the fixing unit 123 andlocated on each side of the first engaging portion 12. In thisembodiment, each of the sleeve units 124 is constructed as a circularsleeve.

The second electrical connector 2 has one end adapted to be connected toan electronic device, such as a computer (not shown), and the other endconnected detachably to the first electrical connector 1. The secondelectrical connector 2 includes a second housing 23 with a flanged end21, a second engaging portion 22 that extends from the flanged end 21and that is connected to the first engaging portion 12 of the firstelectrical connector 1, and two positioning members 211 disposed fixedlyon the second housing 23 and located respectively on two opposite sidesof the second engaging portion 22. The second engaging portion 22includes an annular connecting frame 221, on which the outer frame 121of the first electrical connector 1 is sleeved in a known manner so asto prevent electromagnetic interference, and a plurality of pin holes222 formed in the second engaging portion 22 for insertion of thecontact pins 122 therein so as to form an electrical connection betweenthe first and second electrical connectors 1, 2. In this embodiment,each of the positioning members 211 is constructed as a hexagonal nut.The fixing units 123 engage the positioning members 211 so as to preventrelative movement of the first and second electrical connectors 1, 2 inan axial direction of the pins 122 even when the fixing units 123 engagethe positioning members 211 in an incomplete manner.

The sleeve units 124 of the first electrical connector 1 are sleevedfittingly and respectively on the positioning members 211 of the secondelectrical connector 2 when the first engaging portion 12 and the secondengaging portion 22 are interconnected so as to prevent relativemovement between the first and second electrical connectors 1, 2 in atransverse direction of the contact pins 122.

In use, when the first engaging portion 12 of the first electricalconnector 1 is connected to the second engaging portion 22 of the secondelectrical connector 2, each sleeve unit 124 is fitted on thecorresponding positioning member 211 at the same time. As such, when thecable 5 accidentally swings or bends, due to the limited space betweeneach sleeve unit 124 and the corresponding positioning member 211, thefirst electrical connector 1 will not be easily separated from thesecond electrical connector 2. This can prevent possible opening of thecircuit. Since just a sleeving action is necessary to connect the sleeveunits 124 with the respective positioning members 211, the first andsecond electrical connectors 1, 2 can be fitted together or releasedfrom each other through a quick inserting or releasing action. Even ifthe fixing units 123 and the positioning members 211 are notinter-engaged, the connection between the first and second electricalconnectors 1, 2 can be stabilized. This construction is advantageousespecially for portable projectors and other electronic devices.

Accordingly, the electrical connector assembly of the present inventionis very convenient and easy to use.

Referring to FIG. 5, the second preferred embodiment of an electricalconnector assembly according to the present invention is shown to besubstantially similar to the first preferred embodiment. However, inthis embodiment, each of the sleeve units 124 includes two diametricallyopposed notches 1241 that divide each of the sleeve units 124 into twoarcuate ribs 125, which are sleeved fittingly and respectively on thepositioning members 211, thereby achieving a similar advantageous effectas that of the first preferred embodiment.

The third preferred embodiment of an electrical connector assemblyaccording to the present invention is shown in FIG. 6 to besubstantially similar to the first preferred embodiment. However, inthis embodiment, each of the sleeve units 124 is generally rectangular,and has two opposite notches 1242 that divide each of the sleeve units124 into two opposite U-shaped ribs 126, which are sleeved fittingly ona corresponding one of the positioning members 211, thereby achievingthe same positioning effect as that of the first preferred embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the fourth preferred embodiment of anelectrical connector assembly according to the present invention isadapted to be applied to electrical connectors of SCSI specifications,and is shown to comprise first and second electrical connectors 3, 4.The first electrical connector 3 includes a first housing 31, a firstengaging portion 32 including a plurality of parallel contact pins 322,and two sleeve units 33 disposed respectively on two opposite sides ofthe first engaging portion 32. In this embodiment, each of the sleeveunits 33 is constructed as an elliptical sleeve. The first housing 31has two opposite sides, each of which is provided with a resilientfixing unit 311. Each resilient fixing unit 311 has an end portion thatextends into a corresponding sleeve unit 33 and that is formed with aslot 312.

The second electrical connector 4 includes a second housing 43, a secondengaging portion 42 connected to the first engaging portion 32, and twopositioning members 411 disposed on the second housing 43 and locatedrespectively on two opposite sides of the second engaging portion 42. Inthis embodiment, each of the positioning members 411 is generally shapedas a plate 412 that is parallel to the contact pins 322. Each sleeveunit 33 is sleeved around a respective one of the plates 412 when thefirst and second electrical connectors 1, 2 are interconnected. Theplate 412 has a pair of hooking ends 413 that engage the slot 312 in arespective one of the fixing units 311.

Alternatively, like the sleeve units 124 shown in FIG. 5, each of thesleeve units 33 can be formed with two notches (not shown) that divideeach of the sleeve units 33 into two opposite arcuate ribs (not shown).

While the present invention has been described in connection with whatis considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it isunderstood that this invention is not limited to the disclosedembodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements includedwithin the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

1. An electrical connector assembly comprising: a first electricalconnector including a first housing, a first engaging portion extendingoutwardly from said first housing, and a fixing unit disposed on saidfirst housing and located adjacent to said first engaging portion; and asecond electrical connector having one end adapted to be connected to anelectronic device and the other end connected detachably to said firstelectrical connector, said second electrical connector including asecond housing, a second engaging portion that extends outwardly fromsaid second housing and that is connected to said first engagingportion, and a positioning member disposed fixedly on said secondhousing and located adjacent to said second engaging portion; whereinone of said first and second engaging portions includes a plurality ofparallel contact pins disposed fixedly thereon, and the other one ofsaid first and second engaging portions includes a plurality of pinholes formed therein for receiving respectively said contact pinstherein to form an electrical connection between said first and secondelectrical connectors, said positioning member engaging said fixing unitso as to prevent relative movement between said first and secondelectrical connectors in an axial direction of said pins; wherein saidfirst electrical connector further includes a sleeve unit disposedfixedly on said first housing around said fixing unit, said sleeve unitbeing sleeved fittingly on said positioning member when said firstengaging portion and said second engaging portion are interconnected,whereby relative movement between said first and second electricalconnectors in a transverse direction of said contact pins is prevented;wherein said positioning member is constructed as a hexagonal nut, saidsleeve unit being constructed as a sleeve; and wherein said fixing unitis a bolt that is disposed movably and rotatably in said first housingand that extends into said sleeve unit, the length of said sleeve unitthat protrudes out from said first housing being less than or equal tothe length of said first engaging portion that protrudes out of saidfirst housing.
 2. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim1, wherein said sleeve is circular.
 3. The electrical connector assemblyas claimed in claim 2, wherein said sleeve includes two diametricallyopposed notches that divide said sleeve into two opposite arcuate ribs.4. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidsleeve is generally rectangular, and has two opposite notches thatdivide said sleeve into two opposite U-shaped ribs.
 5. An electricalconnector assembly comprising: a first electrical connector including afirst housing, a first engaging portion extending outwardly from saidfirst housing, and a fixing unit disposed on said first housing andlocated adjacent to said first engaging portion; and a second electricalconnector having one end adapted to be connected to an electronic deviceand the other end connected detachably to said first electricalconnector, said second electrical connector including a second housing,a second engaging portion that extends outwardly from said secondhousing and that is connected to said first engaging portion, and apositioning member disposed fixedly on said second housing and locatedadjacent to said second engaging portion; wherein one of said first andsecond engaging portions includes a plurality of parallel contact pinsdisposed fixedly thereon, and the other one of said first and secondengaging portions includes a plurality of pin holes formed thereon forreceiving respectively said contact pins therein to form an electricalconnection between said first and second electrical connectors, saidpositioning member engaging said fixing unit so as to prevent relativemovement between said first and second electrical connectors in an axialdirection of said pins; wherein said first electrical connector furtherincludes a sleeve unit disposed fixedly on said first housing aroundsaid fixing unit, said sleeve unit being sleeved fittingly on saidpositioning member when said first engaging portion and said secondengaging portion are interconnected, wherein relative movement betweensaid first and second electrical connectors in a transverse direction ofsaid contact pins is prevented; and wherein said positioning member isgenerally shaped as a plate that is parallel to said contact pins, saidplate having a hooking end, said fixing unit having a slot to engagesaid hooking end, said sleeve unit being constructed as an ellipticalsleeve to sleeve around said plate.